"Well, we're trying to figure what's going on with Tria. There are about two dozen Bonisagus who are up in arms about her, about her performance as the Tenens Occultorum for the Rhine, Greater Alps and Roman Tribunals. Everything is upside down for us right now. And this hair-brained scheme that Andru and Murion jumped on. I don't even know half the magi and magae involved, let alone the one in charge." Laetitia says in a small worried voice.
[color=blue]"Tranquillina did mention some rumblings of discontent about Tria," Fiona says, [color=blue]"that she had been...somewhat derelict in her duties, as best I understand."
She looks at Laetitia. [color=blue]"What hair-brained scheme is that, or can you tell me?"
"This double fake out. They are insisting that the ritual cannot be performed, because there are two Primuses of Tytalus. Bilera is reluctant to intervene on that matter, as it's a matter for House Tytalus, and also, she no doubt would prefer that the ritual not be performed, so it suits her desires. But she's also smart enough to wonder if something is being done behind the scenes, without her. Which leads me to the next thing. I cab't stay much longer, need to leave soon, my excuse should arrive any moment now. I have an arcane connection to the Founder's Fane, given to me by the leader. But we won't be able to chat again until much later. I'm about the only member of House Guernicus who can do this without it getting back to Bilera."
((In case it isn't clear, this ritual is a modified ritual at the Founder's Fane. In this saga, I've changed the timing so that it happens every Grand Tribunal, every 33 years, rather than every 7 years.))
[color=blue]"Okay. You be careful," Fiona says as she leans over to kiss Laetitia on the cheek, [color=blue]"and I'll see you later."
The two chat for a bit, then a page comes by and tells Laetitia she's needed back at Valnastium. She gets up, gives Fiona a hug and leaves.
Fiona hugs her tightly back, and checks out the page. If he's cute, and old enough to know what goes where, she'll give him a smile and a wink.
"I'm on duty, maga, but..." He looks around a bit and says, "if you're looking for fun, meet up at the tent near the Black Fir at sundown. That's where the party really gets interesting." The rest of the day is a bit of a bore. The opening ceremony involves each delegate and, out of respect, each Redcap present being given a token to the Aegis. It's a coin with the symbol of the Order on the front and in Roman Numerals on the back it says 17th Grand Tribunal. Murion gives a speech, followed by each of the Primii of the Order. The agenda is set, with the discussion and vote of the Lotharangian Tribunal being the most important item on the agenda, it's given two days for debate, with a vote being held on the final day of debate an hour prior to sundown.
I'm sure Fiona heads over to the tent, in front of it are statues of Aphrodite welcoming everyone into the tent. The work is familiar to Fiona. There is a man in a mask standing out in front of the tent and hands one to Fiona before she enters. "Tradition suggests that this is an anonymous place, so you may wish to alter your size, if you are able to do so. Many magi come here under different disguises. And pardon me, are you looking to conceive? If so, there is a special section of the tent reserved for that, with many studs to service the magae in need."
[color=blue]"That is so sweet of you to think that I'm still in my child-bearing years," she says with a smile, then leans down and whispers in his ear. [color=blue]"Although there's no reason we can't pretend, is there?"
She takes the mask and, with neither words nor gestures, casts La Petite Mascarade (CT is 36, mastered for Still Casting, -10 for No Words, is 26 + die roll of 2 = 28, vs a Spell Level of 15. She lets her robe drop most of the way to the ground, catching it around her waist (and leaving her topless) as she reaches down to gather it around her.
She then looks at one of the statues of Aphrodite and casts a spontaneous Muto Herbam ((base 3 to change a plant product, R: Touch +1, D: Sun +2, for a final Target Level of 10, CT is Sta 3 Mu 17 + He 10+ Aura 7 (I think) + die roll of 0 (but not a botch) = 37, halved is 19; Finesse roll is Int 1 + Finesse 3 + die roll of 3 = 7.)) to turn her robes into something reminiscent of what Aphrodite is wearing. She then dons the mask, smiling at the doorman, and makes her way inside, shivering with anticipation.
Infinite variety in infinite variation. All kinds of participants doing things that Fiona may not yet thought of, or not. Two and three at a time, Genders combining in multiple ways. One of the participants appears to be clothed, but the clothing doesn't interfere with access to her. She also seems to be exclusively interested in men. Soon after she notices the maga, she thinks she finds Douglas. She hears him grunting and speaking nearby and his Scottish brogue.
Fiona totally loses herself to the revelry, taking notes, trying things she's never tried before, taking on anyone who would have her, as many as would have her, men, women, both. Every time she feels herself flagging, she finds people and things to reinvigorate her and keep her going even longer. She moves closer to the maga, double-teaming the man who's currently enjoying her while Fiona tries to figure out if the maga's clothes are moving out of the way or what. When she hears Douglas, she makes her way over to him, bringing the maga she's fingering with her, and offers to join him and his partner(s). She's going to try to keep going until they kick her out of the place, and then go home (hopefully not alone) to get some rest.
Douglas performance is wooden, mechanical, suggesting he's inexperienced, which is in stark contrast to what Fiona knows of any member of House Mercere... He finishes quickly and is off to another.
He eventually meets up with the woman who appears clothed, and she hears her say, Douglas, I'd know you anywhere. Shortly after they've begin coupling she screams, Get off me, you're not Douglas! Nearly as soon as she says the lights in the tent are cast out, a smell of brimstone permeates the air and a hideous laugh can be heard coming from the area Fiona last saw Douglas with the other maga who recognized him. Almost simultaneously at the same time a loud sound of earth being torn asunder can be heard, followed quickly thereafter by shouts.
Roll initiative and declare first round actions.
Fiona's initiative is Qui -1 + die roll of 6 = 5.
Her first round action is to spont a CrIg T: Room spell to create some light if no one beats her to it. If someone does, then she will look for Douglas and cast a Sight of the True Form on herself when she finds him.
Someone easily beats Fiona to the light. Douglas is wrestling with the woman who is wearing imaginary clothes. "Oh Talia, I've watched you for so long, and you've never known. And Douglas, well, he was an easy mark."
Need a roll to determine total penetration on the spell...
((Sight of the True Form is a Personal-range spell, allowing her to see through mundane masks and disguises, and the effects of other spells that are Level 15 or lower. But just in case: CT is 24 + Aura 7 + die roll of 8 = 39 – Level 15 = 24 + Penetration 3 = 27.))
I should have looked up the spell, first, my mistake.
Fiona already knows who it is, she sees Duncan wrestling with the woman he called Talia.
People are fleeing from the tent, and outside, it sounds like a war has broken outside the tent. Spells are being flown left and right.
((I just wanted to be sure it was Douglas and not someone, or something, disguised as him. Declare Round 2, or wait?))
Oh, and with the lights on, what (if anything) does Fiona see? Per 0 + Awareness 3 + die roll of 4 = 7.
She doesn't see anything, but from outside it sounds like the a tree is being felled, the only tree close enough is The Black Fir.
She sees Talia fire a Pilum of Fire which bounces ineffectively against Duncan. Although, upon closer examination it was aimed at oil that as soaked the wooden floor of the pavilion. The oil catches and flames erupt, engulfing the two.
The black fir is bloody huge, isn't it? Fiona wonders briefly if it's important or legendary or something ((Int 1 + Order of Hermes Lore 2 + die roll of 7 = 10)).
Then she sees the flames erupt around Talia and Douglas, on the wooden floor (really, what was the woman thinking?!?), and sponts a spell to put it out. Base 4 to "extinguish a fire, cooling the ashes to merely warm," R: Voice +2, D: Momentary, T: Individual, for a spell level of 10. Her CT is Sta 3 + Pe 5 + Ig 5 + Aura 7 + die roll of 0 (luckily, not a botch (3) = 20, halved is 10. And she's starting to think she should just give up on ever sponting spells anymore 
.
"What are you doing?" Talia screams at Fiona, "This man is impersonating a redcap!".
Duncan cackles, "Ladies, there is no need to fight over me."
Round 3 actions.
[color=blue]"And burning the tent down is going to help?" Fiona yells back.
She then turns Douglas into a pig. Or tries to, anyway. Curse of Circe, CT 35 + loud words 1 + exaggerated gestures 1 + Aura 7 + die roll of 0 (oh, come on! At least it's not a botch (3)) = 44 – spell level 30 = 14 + Penetration (Transformation) 4 = 18. (If they had just coupled, she might have possibly gotten a bonus to her Penetration, but I see that he "eventually" got to Talia, so...shrug)
If she needs to use Confidence to get the penetration to 21, she will.